Seafood: Buyers are advised to avoid eating squid caught in the UK as the species is added to the “red list”
Say no to calamari! Buyers are urged to avoid eating squid caught in the UK as the species is added to the ‘red list’ of seafood
- The Marine Conservation Society has updated its Good Fish Guide
- Squid caught in UK added to red list due to lack of management in place
- Experts warn we don’t know how durable fish are to catch
As the nation grabs hold of the success of Netflix Squid Game, British diners face the shame of the squid.
Diners have been urged to avoid eating UK-caught squid after it was added to a seafood ‘red list’.
The Marine Conservation Society has released an updated version of its Good Fish Guide, a directory for sourcing ocean-friendly seafood.
They are either graded green, amber, or red, indicating that they are the “best choice”, seafood that “needs improvement” or “fish to avoid”.
Some new species added to the guide have been placed directly on the Red List, including squid caught in the UK.
“Squids caught in the UK have been added to the red list because there is no management in place to help protect them, and scientists have no figures on how many are living actually in our waters, so we don’t know how many are sustainable to catch, ”said Charlotte Coombes, head of the Good Fish Guide.
“The data they have suggests that populations may be declining in several areas.”
Diners were urged to avoid eating UK-caught squid after it was added to a seafood ‘red list’
Ratings for other species such as saithe – sometimes used as a substitute for cod and haddock – and North Sea shrimp have also deteriorated.
Most of the UK lobster and crab species are categorized as amber due to lack of management and lack of quotas.
Meanwhile, there are mixed ratings for cod – one of Britain’s most popular fish.
All cod populations in UK seas are at low levels and most continue to decline. North Sea cod remain on the red list as the charity warns that warming waters are likely to be contributing to their low numbers.
However, Icelandic cod and Arctic cod caught using certain techniques remained on the green list.
The charity also warned against bycatch – animals caught by accident – in many fisheries. These include porpoises, sharks and seabirds in the southwest of the UK.
Ms Coombe said: “The latest update to the Good Fish Guide ratings really highlights the impact of poorly managed fisheries on the state of our seas, with so many new ratings directly on our Fish to Avoid list.
Some new species added to the guide were put directly on the Red List, including squid caught in the UK (pictured)
“However, there are glimmers of hope, with a 20-score improvement in the last update, showing that where good management exists, we can get our seas back.”
The charity calls for management plans to be in place in fisheries across the UK for all commercially caught species, with cod, herring and squid receiving “urgent attention” .
They cite European hake – which was previously graded red – as an example of how management techniques can turn species fortunes around.
Stocks have since recovered and hake fisheries are now using pingers to deter porpoises from the area.
As a result, the species is now listed as green.
Gareth Cunningham, Head of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “There are clear opportunities to improve fishing in the UK.
“With the adoption of fully documented fisheries and fisheries management plans, UK seafood could be made sustainable for many years to come.
“Our notes provide further evidence that UK governments must act now, or risk tipping the scales too much.”
